Electric vehicle maker Tesla is telling customers that they can bring their cars in for body repairs, in a bid to reduce the painfully long wait times some Tesla owners are experiencing at the hands of third party mechanics.
CEO Elon Musk made the announcement this morning via Twitter, much to the excitement of many Tesla owners on the social media platform.
“Tesla is bringing most collision repairs in-house, as outside firms take weeks to months for repairs, driving Tesla owners (and us) crazy,” he said.
Tesla is bringing most collision repairs in-house, as outside firms take weeks to months for repairs, driving Tesla owners (and us) crazy
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 16, 2018
The announcement follows the introduction of in-house Tesla body shops – to fix minor repairs such as scuffs and panel adjustments – back in June of this year, when Musk told fans that body repair shops would be rolled out in ‘all major metro areas to ensure super fast & excellent outcome’.
We’re building out Tesla body repair in all major metro areas to ensure super fast & excellent outcome
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 8, 2018
With some owners reporting waiting times of up to four months for Tesla collision repairs, the announcement will be sure to ease a few headaches.
Some of the delays, Musk admits, are directly due to supply chain issues at Tesla’s end, and that the EV maker will concentrate on improving this as soon as Model 3 delivery logistics are ironed out.
“Yeah, that’s our problem. Service & parts supply in general will be the top Tesla priority after we get through the insane car delivery logistics of the next few weeks,” he said this morning.
Yeah, that’s our problem. Service & parts supply in general will be the top Tesla priority after we get through the insane car delivery logistics of the next few weeks.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 16, 2018
So far, the EV entrepreneur reports in-house repairs are taking as little as 24 hours, but the company is aiming to bring this down to same day – and eventually within the hour.
Exciting to see some Tesla collision repair operations already completing within 24 hrs. Aiming for same day soon, then under an hour.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 16, 2018
Whether Australians can expect to receive the same service from local Tesla shops is, unfortunately, not yet on the cards – in a statement to The Driven, the company confirmed that for now, light repairs to customer vehicles, including minor paint repair, polishing and panel adjustments, are only available to US customers.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.